Toy aeroplane



Jan. 28,- 1930. w. 1.". HOLCOMBE TOY AEROPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filefl Dec- 15. 1927 Jan. 28, 1930. w. L. HOLCOMBE TOY AEROPLANE Filed Dec. 15 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. HOLCOMBE, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY TOY AEROPLANE Application filed December 15, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in toy aeroplanes of that type adapted to be propelled by a child sitting astride the fuselage with its feet in contact with the ground.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a toy of the character stated wherein the fuselage shall be hollow, light, strong and durable and of such configuration as to perniit the child to sit comfortably astride the same.

The invention has for a further object to provide a toy of the character stated wherein the front wheels shall be connected to the wings and the wings pivotally connected to the fuselage so as to permit the wings to be used for the purpose of steering the toy.

The invention has for a further object to provide a toy of the character stated wherein the propeller shall be rotated from the axle of the front wheels and wherein the means for pivotally connecting the wings to the fuselage shall be hollow so as to permit a driving connection to be established between the axle and the propeller shaft.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the toy aeroplane,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the toy aeroplane,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4; is a sectional view taken on the 40 vertical plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fi ure 2.

fieferring in detail to the drawings, 1 dos Serial No 240,199;

ignates the fuselage, 2 the propeller and 3 the rudder of the toy aeroplane. 4 and 5 designate the front wheels, 6 the rear wheel, 7 the lower wing, and 8 the upper wing of the toy aeroplane.

The fuselage or body 1 is hollow and open at its lower side. The lateral sides 9 of the fuselage l are provided along their upper edges with i-n-turned flanges lOto which the top side 11 is secured and at their front edges with inturned flanges 12 to which the front side 13 of the fuselage is secured. The contour of the fuselage 1 in plan is similar to that of the corresponding part of an aircraiit.- The rear portion of the side 11 gradually decreases in width rearwar'dly and is inclined downwardly and rearwardly and the longitudinal edges thereof are rounded so as to permit a child to sit comfortably astride the fuselage or body. A reinforcing rib 14: extends longitudinally of the fuselage or body 1,, and the top side 11 is secured thereto. Its front end is spaced from the front side 18-. A cross piece 15 is secured to sides 9} between the front side 13 and the front end of the rib 14.

The propeller 2 is fixed to the shaft 16 which is jou'rnaled in a bearing carried by the front side 13 and a bearing 18 carried by the cross piece 15. The parts of the rudder 3 have a fixed position with respect to the fuselage or body 1, and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The wings 7 and 8 are connected together by struts 19 and stay wires 20. The axle 21 of the frontwheels 4 and 5 is journaled in bearing standards 22 which are fixed to and depend from the lower wing 7 and are braced by struts 23. The wheel 4 is loose on the axle 21, and the wheel 5 is fixed to the axle so as to effect the rotation thereof when the toy aeroplane is in motion. The propeller 2 is driven from the axle 21 by means of a belt 24 which passes about a pulley 25 on the shaft 16' and a pulley 26 on the axle, The wings 7 and 8 are piv'oh ally connected to the fuselage or body 1 so as to permit the toy aeroplane to be steered through the medium of the upper wing 8 to which hand grips 27 are secured. The wings 7 and 8 are pivotally connected to the fuselage or body 1 through the medium of a bearing ring 28 secured to and between the sides 9, as shown at 28 in Figure 1, and a bearing ring 29 secured to the lower wing 7 The bearing ring 28 is provided in its under side with an annular recess 30 for the reception of the upper portion of the bearing ring 29. An annular plate 31 secured by screws 32 against the under side of the bearing ring 28 projects inwardly beyond the vertical wall of the recess 30 for contact with the upper side of an annular shoulder 33 on the bearing ring 29. The plate 31 detachably and rotatably connects the bearing rings 28 and 29. The bearings 28 and 29 are located between and in axial alinement with the pulleys 25 and 26 and in registration with an opening 34 in the lower wing 7, the belt 24 passing through the bearing rings and opening.

The rear wheel 6 is fixed to an axle journaled in the lower end of a fork 36 which is rigidly connected as at 38 to the web 14 of the body or fuselage 1.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that the toy aeroplane may be readily propelled and steered, that the propeller 2 will be positively rotated while the toy aeroplane is in motion, and that the toy aeroplane is attractive in appearance and capable of being manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

It should be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative and do not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawings are illustrative of a preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Vhat is claimed is z- 1. A toy of the character set forth, comprising a body, a shaft journaled in the front end portion of the body, a propeller fixed to the shaft, a bearing ring fixed to the lower side of the body, a bearing ring journaled in said first bearing ring, a wing fixed to said second bearing ring, an axle journaled on the wing, wheels connected to the axle, a wing being provided with an opening in registration with the opening of the bearing rings, and a driving member connected to the shaftand axle and passing through said opening and the bearing rings.

2. A toy of the character set forth, comprising a body, a shaft journaled in the front end of the body, a propeller fixed to the shaft, a bearing ring fixed to the lower side of the body, a bearing ring journaled in said first bearing ring, a lower wing fixed to said seclOO 

